>> Good evening and thanks for joining us on the week in review.

I'm Brandis Friedman in for Nick Blumberg.

Chicago Public School board members passed in nearly 10 billion dollar budget, but not without some 11th hour fee at Rick's.

>> Let's show families that we will leave no stone unturned to fight for the funding their students need and deserve.

Yes, let's fight.

I agree.

Let's go.

Let's getting I am down with you.

Well, let's not I nose to spite face.

>> A last-minute budget amendment includes an additional 150 million dollars in state revenue that may not come through.

Our team.

Members watched students sitting together at lunch.

>> Playing board games and talking with friends.

They were laughing and simply being kids again.

>> Governor JB Pritzker signs a bill banning cell phones and Illinois public schools from Bell to bell about to see Mayor Johnson come off the sideline and I hope to see the people who support him get out here and pass a petition.

If he's not gonna pass, what I'll pass from Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis.

Gates endorses another term for Mayor Brandon Johnson before he's announced plans for re election.

It comes as candidates for Chicago mayor and City Council start collecting signatures to get on the ballot.

>> We've seen significant more intense storms.

Year to date and we have all all of 2025.

>> Meanwhile, major storms this week downed trees and flooded basements across the Chicago area and caused power outages for hundreds of thousands.

Plus reaction to the 7 save-a-lot stores closing across Chicago and how city partners are helping out affected older residents.

And Chicago's biggest music festival.

Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park this weekend.

And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us, our Michael, it Rock Block club.

Chicago.

>> So up W's own head or Sharon.

Violent Miller of the Chicago Sun-Times and Brendan, more with Capitol News, Illinois.

Welcome back, everybody.

Thanks for joining us.

So Heather, Chicago school board members as we just heard rejecting this budget proposal from CEO Macklin King and instead passing an amended nearly 10 billion dollar plan.

What's outlined in this budget?

Well, the big point of contention was about 150 million dollars.

Now, without that money, Macklin King says school board is going to have to lay off teachers.

They're going to have to cut programs.

That is just sort of them.

How them at this turning out.

>> The school board said no, we should demand that money from the General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker.

We should not prepared to lay off.

Teachers are cut programs.

So now they have said, hey, Governor Pritzker Pay General Assembly, don't want to see teachers laid off.

Don't want to see class sizes grow.

The ball is now in your court.

Now.

This this isn't the only pot of money that isn't actually in this in CPS's hands.

It also relies on 285 million dollars from the city in property tax revenues that they're hoping the city will send them after declaring a significant amount money to be in surplus.

And that counts the city holds now there's no guarantee that that money is going to actually materialize at any point.

So there are a lot of unanswered questions for CPS and parents who about to send their kids back to school go ahead.

And we definitely a lot of speculation.

>> One thing I think is notable also of the 285 tax money to funds CPS is speculating on us.

2 million dollar, a 10 billion dollar budget.

It's also notable that last year they received around 500 Million.

But still it's not guarantee that they will receive a certain amount because last year city got his start.

Billion dollar surplus.

But if it does keep on that track, they could potentially expect more.

But still, it's a lot up in the air.

Speculate on part of what's going on really a sort of fight between the Chicago teachers union and the Service Employees International Union out.

Originally SEIU objected to the superintendent's plan to furlough employees for 5 days and they said Just count on more tips pregnant.

Now the superintendent agreed to that.

>> Which prompted CTU to renew their demands that they ask for more money from the state.

Essentially, we can't, you know, sort of expect more money from the city.

Why can't we expect more money from the state?

And this was a little bit of political push and pull and again, kids, parents, teachers, employees caught in the middle, right is specifically board.

Members are counting on 150 million dollars in funding from the state.

Brendan, what support, if any, has the board garnered from state lawmakers.

>> So this is a new conversation.

So Mayor Johnson CTU have been down in Springfield for the past few years trying to get more money from the state trying to get more money from the state's evidence base funding funding formula for schools for CPS, but largely without success because the state has been putting more money into schools, 300 million dollars every year.

About 2 and a half billion dollars since evidence-based funding first came into fruition 10 years ago.

But obviously it's not enough.

Schools are not adequacy CPS at 73%.

But something changed this week.

So House Speaker Chris Welch and the meeting with the only Federation of Teachers said run by Stacy Davis, CTU President.

Absolutely.

he committed to leading the effort the veto session in November to getting more funding for CPS and personally for more funding for schools across the state.

Now he didn't run that by the governor can run that by Senate President Don Harmon.

It caught a little bit, everybody a little bit by surprise.

obviously some context here.

The speaker right now is embroiled in a little bit of a scandal rally, handled X rep Harry Brant pens, harassment case.

So maybe trying to shore up his standing with some allies and know is he to you in the eye of tea a lot of progressive lawmakers would like to work on this, but they have really done a lot since they left Springfield in May.

You know, when they did transit a few years ago, there were subject matter hearings and negotiations that hasn't happened yet.

there's some there's some positive words.

If you're Stacy Davis, Gates and the teachers union about momentum in Springfield.

But right now there's words not a lot of action been taken.

And if this happens during the October veto session, you don't need just a majority of votes in the General Assembly.

You need a super super majority of votes and a downstate lawmakers.

Suburban lawmakers are usually really eager to give Chicago more money than their own districts.

Get.

>> And, you know, I think if you sort of said, well, everybody gets 150 million dollars more.

We're talking 700 million dollars now.

Also equity work But you know, the state is also sort of strapped for cash.

And pretty sure that there aren't 700 million dollar stuck in a couch cushions somewhere, which means that they're going to be really hard decisions to be made once they get back action.

I was talking on the sidelines with with some state reps just off the record on background and even the most progressive lawmakers told me that.

>> There is no way CPS only package passes and sprinkle just votes are not there.

So so the 150 million dollars that is budgeted by CPS would have to be even more to account for schools across the state.

And as you said, Heather, the state doesn't have a lot of money just lying around.

And Governor JB Pritzker today was asked about this and he basically said, well, I look forward to seeing Speaker.

Well, just plan kind of putting the ball in the speaker's court to come come up with something because the budget they passed in May does not have a lot of wiggle room really of what happened Michael a is Jessica Point bring about the super majority because about earlier when it comes to downstate in the suburbs, even though the Legislature may have a majority Democratic Sens abilities and that is not majority Chicago.

>> And when thinking about just this hyper Chicago legislation is hyper.

Chicago package isn't the allies?

We're hard to get that I think a lot of times, especially here in the city, we can think about state politics in terms of Chicago, but it's like downstate Springfield.

That's something that's probably people are tired void of Chicago dominating so much of legislature.

>> So Mayor Johnson supporters, they have begun circulating petitions on his behalf, even though he still hasn't made it official.

He's not announced yet violent that he's going to seek that second term.

What does that say about where his campaign stands?

>> I think the fact that Giannulli us has such a head start here.

So many other candidates really have such a head start, even of the smaller ones.

Are really certain to get out there?

I just, you know, it.

It doesn't tell me that, you know, he's kind of ready to divert focus to the campaign trail yet.

I think that we're all may be treading.

The mailers in the advertised in something.

wishful thinking.

Maybe that's just him trying to delay that as we all are.

But on, you know, again, it it seems to me like, you it's long past time to jump on that and to start, you know, getting out in front of it.

And so I'll be curious to see with this this announcement Sunday that, you know, nobody knows.

What is it about you that maybe Mayor Johnson will jump in afterwards?

Well, a push back just a little bit because all the way back in 2019, Rahm Emanuel didn't tell us whether who's going to run for a 3rd term or not until after Labor Now state law has changed.

Everything's accelerated a month.

So we are still early in the marathon.

That will be the 2027 mayoral in Aldermanic race.

Please let me hang on can.

>> But you know, the moment he announces you're right.

He not only is mayor.

He has been candidates seeking reelection and that changes my coverage that changes all of ours coverage.

And I think when you're an incumbent, you sort of want to stretch that power of incumbency as as long as she can now.

Will that change on Sunday when a very well-financed, very well-known candidate perhaps gets to what he's going stay in turn, tune in on Monday at 5.30, over time pushed a little bit on what your push on violent.

It begs the question of with the candidate that is speculated to have social to not be an official candidate like is has.

>> How much longer can Johnson tees or or fall back on the clearing win as of at the end of Q 2, you have a 22 million dollars in fundraising compared to $600,000 in fundraising and the longer Johnson puts off jumping back in the ring.

How how big of momentum can you get to match or even come close to that in terms of fundraising campaign funds beyond should being the incumbent just throw this out?

There is a possible he's not running again.

Sure.

If the mayor Mayor Rahm Emanuel, you mentioned, for example, waited so late to say I'm not >> Is it possible that Johnson's doing the same things?

If you're not no rush?

>> I would be surprised he is governing like a candidate.

He introduced renter's rights ordinance that sort of spoke directly to his progressive base.

He has defended his handling of the migrant crisis.

He has demanded more money for CPS.

He has demanded more money for violence, interruption efforts and he is sort of pushed back on suggestions that he should not be allowed to name the next superintendent of police.

in retrospect, you could sort of look back in hindsight being 2020 search.

See Rahm Emanuel sort you know, sort of stepping back a little bit.

It was a different time to look when McDonald's scandal was sort of in full bloom.

So it's, you know, 6, 1, hand, half dozen.

The other Lori Lightfoot also sort of waited until sort of she had to announce.

She filed her petitions on the very last day in 2023.

So I think that, you know, sir, is this being this media moment perhaps a certain demanding that people sort declare and tell us and we want to know and I don't think that they necessarily sort of work on our schedule, although it would be nice, of course.

And of course, the mayor's welcome to make his announcement on Chicago tonight.

should he should he decide I always say I I will believe it when they file their petitions and we're past the period where they can withdraw.

We've seen some in recent years.

There.

>> And the point money, I mean, yes, the mayor does not have a lot of money, especially compared to Lexington, earliest and to several the other candidates.

>> But money is not not the end.

All be all.

And he's never been a fairly prolific fundraisers.

you know, been funded in the past by the Chicago teachers union, some of the public sector unions.

And I imagine at least some of them will be still be with him and font.

And even if they also have some school board races to I I think he has the benefit of incumbency and and once he announces for reelection, you know, will mean he has the bully pulpit.

Even this week, you know, CTU President Stacy Davis, Gates saying that she hopes, you know, that Mayor Johnson will, quote, come off the sideline in the mayoral race.

>> volunteering to go past conditions form, if you will do it.

Michael, how significant is that?

You know, one of his closest political allies is publicly urging him to get involved because surely they talk on the phone.

It begs the question of how much the communications happening.

>> And especially when thinking about see to you how how strongly the ties are with Johnson's background.

How big of a push, you may, for his first term?

It's that Stacy Davis Gates has pushed for and when thinking about his legacy back to our earlier talks, it will be more surprising than not.

And Johnson were to not run for a second term.

And then even with comparisons were wrong.

The difference in your legacy when you've been elected and re-elected compared to just being a one term.

Mayor and with Johnson particular, should he be re-elected and it should be re-elected and go into a second term.

He would make history being the longest sitting black Chicago mayor.

And I think that's something that's not pass I think that's a really good point.

I would also say that let's assume Johnson and Julius both run.

It will be an interesting question about what does money mean Chicago mayor's race because if money was everything a Chris number, if you would be packing his bags for the U.S.

Senate, he is not.

Juliana Stratton there have been many cases, you know, that that he's sort of, you know, that conventional wisdom has been turned on its Paul Vallas outspent.

>> Brendan Johnson significantly in 2023 we'll see what happens as mostly doesn't necessarily an engineer leaves mean a lot folks talking about as it a front runner and he is in a way because he starts with 22 million bucks in the bank.

>> But also he's running for re-election right now as the secretary of state of Illinois.

I remember back in 2019 winds and Ohsa was running for re-election as controller she had to kind of do the nod, nod, wink, You know, I might be running for mayor and her.

And so I think generally should be transparent about it.

But that is going to be some questions to answer 2 of, you know, you're running 2 different offices at the same and people might not happy about that.

Before we let this go real quick, I want to get to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

He posted a video on X today alluding to something.

I want to take a quick look at that.

>> That's it for little basketball.

Michael.

>> When we got Yeah.

Sure.

>> I think everyone's eager to see what's going to happen in Bronzeville on Sunday.

>> I think.

Is definitely in terms of, you know, ISIS image as far as past year or longer with him being quota x Hooper, believe on his Twitter profile person to Person X Cooper.

Yeah, yes, yes.

And of course it is also serves as a reminder that he is a basketball buddy of former President Barack Obama, that have the Obama center.

that is that is the subtext of that.

I would That's right.

Now Johnson is the only prospective mayoral candidate to sort of be a self-avowed progressive, whereas right now there are a lot of self-proclaimed centrists and moderates that can play a role in a race where you're battling to be the top 2 finishers in the first round of Before we move on what you think you signaling with the basketball tweet.

>> Listen guys earlier.

the shoes for an early signal.

So I have to give credit to my colleague, Ashley by Yeah, I best phones, not my my realm.

So I can't say much other than it seems pretty apparent at this point as units having fun with that.

He wants to pass the rock, somebody you want pass.

The okay.

So back to Springfield, legislative inspector general today releasing his report Brendan about these allegations into Again.

State Representative Harry Benton.

>> What are we learning this report today?

>> Honestly, not a lot of new information.

So a lot of this came out a few weeks ago in Chicago Tribune report about an allegation that came out for years ago against represented bet.

And that was not the one in the actual complaint, but it was used to kind of establish a pattern and there some details that previously reported about representative been having in earlier this year inappropriate contact with a lobbyist at a bar in Chicago.

said something to her that I can't repeat on but supposedly a few state reps heard it and reported it to speaker's office.

They filed a complaint.

The lady's office Benton obviously got a stripped of his committee kicked out of the House Democratic Caucus and then the report came out was delivered to the speaker in July.

now there's a process they have to go through to do redactions and decide.

want to release the report.

That said to release a report was released today and basically it revealed that representative was had a kind of a pattern of bad behavior and it kind of raising questions about how the speaker's office dealt with allegations back in 2023, why the speaker then still supported representative 2024.

With a $1,000,000.4 in campaign funds.

And you know why you waited so long and I had to be this complaint it to the point where Representative Fred Crespo is calling the speaker to resign, accusing him of mishandling House.

Welsh responded.

>> Yeah.

So he has a response Fred Crespo in speaker Welsh have a bit of history for Christmas.

Also been booted from the caucus for different reasons.

but he's saying some things Democrats will say privately but won't say publicly about speaker.

They're frustrated with how he's handled this process because I think the big thing was, again, the allegation back in 2023 that was detailed great detail in Tribune few weeks ago.

you know why the speaker didn't do anything then because, >> you know, that would you know, potentially could expose more staff to potential harassment.

So there's a lot frustration with the and he's kind he's defended office's process here, also indicated that more could have been done and apparently in the veto session, there will be an effort do some reforms to make sure that when allegations come up, they're taken seriously.

And there's a process in place.

>> Violet, temporary protected status has now ended for many Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

And you spoke with some members of the Haitian community in your story this week.

What are people saying?

specifically just to put some numbers on a 350,000 Haitians around 6,000 Syrians nationwide.

>> Losing temporary protected status.

This comes after the Supreme Court ruled for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans as well as you know, thousands from other countries last year.

What we still have another million on temporary protected status that still stands but could face the same in the future.

you know, folks are standard.

Folks are afraid because it Haiti's case for temporary protected status, they had to have been here since the inciting incident that had proof, right?

So that the 2010 Haiti earthquake, these are folks who have been building their lives for it.

This 0, 16 years here, they have children who are Americans, American citizens and they are now looking to pass on legal guardianship because they have lost, you know, legal status in this country.

And so it puts a lot of people in an incredibly precarious situation by it in talking with immigrant group stage said, you know, it's it's no different than defending and protecting legally any other person without legal status.

You know, they already have this playbook to protect folks.

And I they're urging people to just, you know, get in contact with immigration lawyers as soon as you can because, you know, again, this is very precarious situation legally.

Michael's 7 Save-a-lot stores close their doors, leaving even fewer grocery store is available on the south and West sides.

What prompted this closure?

>> It's really was a perfect storm.

You have the based yellow, yellow Banana.

Bexar Co died in April.

And then on top of that, you have the Trump snap cuts that also impacted things to wear.

A lot of these stores were banking more less to say their bread and butter was EBT and snap WIC.

And so when these cuts people not being able to spend this much on top of a supplier that is FEC facing financial headwinds following the death of a CEO.

it's an important and especially considering that back 4 years ago, the city put total of 26 million dollars towards the store's 16 for city council in another 13 from the city.

I mean, 13 from the city and from City Council, not the 13 to where you see a lot of this infrastructure that the city is working to set up with the 7 stores now up in the air.

And the question of how can be able to make things sustainably bringing in another supplier?

Mayor Johnson announced that lift is putting $25,000 towards getting seniors rise to other grocery stores.

But it definitely begs the question of sustainability and showing that bringing in a chain of grocery stores, it's not enough chain could come in today.

And we got tomorrow as we've experienced more than in the city of Chicago.

>> violent you've reported on the Women's Professional Baseball League against the league.

Right between Illinois is a league.

Tell us about it.

so it's returning to Springfield tomorrow.

They're playing at a neutral stadiums.

The teams are coastal La San Francisco, Boston and New York.

>> this you know, one of the largest attempts at a women's professional league since the league of their own.

That folks know from the movie and TV show and it started in 1943.

And ran through 1954.

So, you know, almost 70 years, there's another attempt in the 90's that was pretty short lived.

So this is really exciting, you that it's coming home to Illinois again, with this history.

As you know, folks have probably seen in the movie.

But additionally, just this last weekend, Rockford hosted the Women's Baseball World Cup, the international analog for women's baseball.

And so, you know, Illinois is really setting itself up as this home for women's baseball when they're historically really hasn't been Hopefully Chicago will be fingers crossed.

These want to add a teen in a little bit.

Ok on?

That is where we're gonna have to leave Thanks to our week in review panel, Michael Lippe Trot and Heather Sharon.

And violent Miller and Brandon Moore.

And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation, additional support is provided by.

>> And that is our show for this Friday night.

This weekend's Lollapalooza may dominate the headlines, but there are a ton of events happening across the city.

Check out our website for our Chicago Summer Festival guide.

That's at W T Tw Dot com slash festivals.

Now for the weekend Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, safe and informed and have a great weekend.

>> Anybody going to local news of this weekend and as opposed to being an after show yesterday.

My friends play, but I was working.

So you live where saw years.

I want to go in.

I saw them too old for law to hold with geriatric I know that I'm too old, but needs to tell tool since I was in my early into this my favorite way to La La is you know the stream it live on Hulu.

we watch somber last night because my kid is a fan writing about Olivia Dean tomorrow they started building parts of Miami.

that's a way to do.

is the way to do it.

Just always.

right Captain made possible by Clifford and Clifford Law offices.

>> A Chicago personal injury and wrongful death for that